5 top tips for saving money on your home utilities

Most of us are constantly trying to save money where we can; whether it’s skipping your daily Starbucks or limiting online shopping, many of us make a conscious effort to save those extra pennies.

While it can seem like a drag, you’ll be surprised how making small changes can make a big difference to your bank balance.

Plumbers4u shares its top tips on how to save money on your home utilities, while helping the environment, so it’s a win-win all around.

Check your boiler

(Saving: £240 a year)

According to the Office of National Statistics, the average household spends around £1,979 a year on electricity and gas and £475 on water.

Your boiler works at the heart of your central heating system to send heat and hot water to the radiators and taps in your home.

However, you could save as much as £240 a year by installing a more efficient boiler. While the initial cost of a new boiler may seem daunting, it’ll work out as more cost-efficient over the years.

Install a programmable thermostat

(Saving: £197 a year)

Installing a programmable thermostat will mean your heating is controlled automatically when you may not need it (like when you’re out or asleep).

Having set times can reduce your heating bills by 10 percent, so around £197 a year.

Fix dripping taps

(Saving: £142 a year)

Dripping taps typically waste 5,500 litres of water a year. Traditional taps drip because an internal rubber seal, or washer, has perished and needs replacing. Monobloc level taps have ceramic cartridges that occasionally need to be replaced.

You could save up to £142 (if calculated using the average household bill) by asking a plumbing professional to check and tighten your taps.

You can also save by purchasing a simple cistern displacement device which reduces the amount of water used by around 1 litre every flush.

Switch it off

(Saving: £30 a year)

You can save £30 a year by turning all appliances off standby mode when they’re not in use. Make sure you unplug them too, as they can still use energy when switched off but are plugged in.

For example, rechargeable devices, such as smartphones, continue to use power even after a phone is fully charged.

Fit foil behind your radiator

(Saving: £40 a year)

If you put tin foil on the wall behind your radiator, heat is reflected into your room instead of being lost through the walls and you are not wasting money on lost energy.

Unfortunately, you can’t use basic tin foil for this one: you’ll need to buy specially designed thickened sheets.

However, these can reduce the energy lost through walls by around 45 percent, or £40 a year from your annual bill.

Shop around

(Saving: up to £330)

Energy regulator Ofgem introduced a price cap in January, limiting the amount providers can charge for each unit of energy on standard and default tariffs.

While bills are likely to have dropped, most of the 11 million UK households on standard tariffs will still be overpaying.

Avoid being ripped off by getting multiple quotes from providers to see what they can offer to meet your needs.

Loyalty is often not rewarded and we usually only stick with providers because it’s the easy option. However, experts suggest that you should switch provider every year to secure the best offers.

Even compared with the lower price cap level, a typical household could save over £330 a year by switching.